The penchant for a section of residents in the Kumasi metropolis to harass neighbours with persistent noise making at residential areas and the Central Business District of Kumasi for commercial purposes, has now incurred the wrath of residents and city authorities.
Residents have expressed concern about the alarming rate at which traditional drug peddlers and other business entities in Kumasi mount loud speakers on vehicles at odd hours to disturb the peace with impunity.
In a series of complaints to the Daily Graphic, about the incessant noise in Kumasi, a section of residents expressed concern about “the drumming, singing, shouting, screaming and yelling by a group of worshippers, drug peddlers, film producers and gospel musicians, among others at odd hours “
Lamenting about the operations of the noise makers, the residents called on the city authorities “to institute measures to bring such law breakers to book”.
According to the residents, some religious fanatics have not only turned residential areas in the metropolis into places of worship, “but also shout at the top of their voices, aided by powerful loudspeakers”.
This , they noted, had made it impossible for law-abiding residents to have the peace of mind to plan and execute programmes that would enhance the success of their businesses.
A resident at Bomso, Dr K.E. Appiah of Bomso Clinic in Kumasi, who had been hit by the persistent noise in his residence told the Daily Graphic in his letter that his next door neighbour who has converted his house into what he described as “a centre of worship” had been creating all forms of noise “to prevent my family from enjoying any meaningful life”.
Stressing, he said “of late, a nearby respectable institution which has reached a university college status, has joined this cacophony of noise pollution” and therefore questioned where Ghana was heading to.
In a press release on noise and its socio-economic effects on residents, dated February 22, 2010 the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) which has become adamant to the incessant noise in the metropolis over the years, seems to have been suddenly woken from its slumber, and now appreciates the high level of noise in its catchment area and its effect on residents.
“Noise pollution has become one of the biggest challenges facing residents in the Kumasi Metropolis” the statement signed by Mr Clement Kegeri, the Public Relations Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly said.
Stressing, the statement said “ in order to combat the menace, the Assembly , in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would soon undertake a city wide operation code-named, “operation less noise” to rid the city of excessive noise.
Explaining the rationale behind their action, the KMA noted, “The operation has become necessary in view of the need to protect human health and the environment from facing further negative effect exerted on it by excessive noise”.
The statement added that “information available at the Assembly indicates that 52 per cent of complaints lodged at the KMA in the year 2009, were noise related, whilst in the previous year (2008) 40 per cent of 78 complaints received by EPA were about noise pollution”.
The KMA identified mobile preachers, churches, drinking spots, those who hold funerals at open spaces and night clubs, as the worst offenders of noise pollution in the Kumasi Metropolis.
It is also not uncommon to see a section of the youth blasting horns and other musical instruments during weekends in the name of celebrating the life of departed lovers.
During such periods, the mourners disregard all forms of road traffic regulations by not only cramming themselves into small vehicles, - some of them in the booths - but also speed along residential areas, thus putting the lives of other road users at great risk.
Many accidents in the Kumasi metropolis that claimed precious lives, especially at weekends, could be traced to this callous attitude that has been allowed to go on with impunity for years.
How many times have we not seen some musicians hawking their products along the principal streets in the metropolis ?
Such musicians hawk their products in vehicles that move at a snail’s pace with the full blast of loud speakers to disturb public peace.
The operations of film producers who use loud speakers to market their products are equally disturbing .
For the untouchables who regularly block the Bantama, Dechemso and Krofrom High Streets among others in the name of street jams, the little said about them the better.
During such jams, motorists are forced to divert their routes at great expense before they can continue their journey, and commuters affected by such diversions, bemoan the immoral activities that go on during such street jams.
As far back as 2002, the Daily Graphic drew the attention of the city authorities to the uncontrolled noise in the metropolis and its effect on law-abiding citizens.
At that time, the Mayor of Kumasi gave an assurance that the assembly would collaborate with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to initiate policies and programmes that would reduce noise in Kumasi to a minimal level.
The assurance at that time as usual was that “those who harass residents through noise would not only be arrested, but would also be prosecuted to deter others”
However, the assurance became a mere political talk.
This was because since then, no action has been taken to prevent people from harassing neighbours through noise in Kumasi.
This has given noise makers a field day to invade any place in Kumasi with impunity at any time they pollute the atmosphere, thereby harassing law-abiding residents.
The concerns raised by a section of residents about noise pollution and its effect in Kumasi and the venom KMA is spewing in their attempt to control the situation, should not be taken for granted.
At the moment, city authorities are proving that they can bark very hard and are determined to deal with the situation decisively without fear or favour.
The assurance by the KMA is highly commendable, even though they are yet to begin the exercise.
It is equally important to learn that the KMA is collaborating with the EPA to initiate moves to create a serene atmosphere in Kumasi to enable law-abiding residents to have the enabling environment to focus on their business ventures.
This is because, like the KMA, the EPA seems to have buried its head in the sand, pretending that so far as noise pollution is concerned, nothing is happening in Kumasi.
Over the years, officials of the EPA, who have the mandate to arrest and prosecute residents who flout regulations on noise, only sit in their offices instead of monitoring the operations of the law breakers and bringing them to book.
It is also very unfortunate that instead of taking action, the EPA is rather complaining about noise making in Kumasi just as ordinary residents are doing.
It would be interesting to see how the KMA will collaborate with the EPA to address the problems of noise making in Kumasi.
As part of its bye-laws, jointly signed by the then Metropolitan Coordinating Director and Presiding Member in 1995, on the abatement of noise, the KMA noted” On any premises used for the sale of musical records or other recorded music, there shall be provided for listening, a separate and proofed room, equipped with such instrument and gadgets as to eliminate any loud noise or nuisance to the public”.
The KMA bye-laws on noise pollution also pointed out that “No person shall play or cause to be played records music in public for the purpose of advertisement in such a manner as to cause disturbance or nuisance to the public”.
It further noted that “where recorded music is provided in a nightclub, restaurant, drinking bar, hotel or other place of refreshment, or entertainment, the music shall be so provided as to be heard only within the confines of the place”.
On religious programmes, the Assembly directed, “ where music is played in a religious institution, the music shall be so provided as to be heard only within the confines of their institution”.
Stressing, it said “a person conducting a religious service where music is to be played before 6 a.m. or after 12 p.m. shall seek permission from KMA in writing, except public and statutory holidays”.
Another interesting aspect of the bye-laws on noise making stipulated, that “no person shall within one hundred meters of any shop, dwelling house, office or other premises, sound or play upon any musical or noisy instrument, or sing, or shout, or blow the horn of any motor vehicle unnecessarily in any street to the annoyance or disturbance of any inmates or occupants thereof”.
These are brilliant regulations instituted with the view of promoting peaceful co-existence and serene atmosphere in the Kumasi metropolis, but they have only become decorative materials on the shelves of the KMA.
However, a critical scrutiny of the KMA bye-laws on noise making shows that the Assembly has never taken its own initiative serious, hence the action by residents to flout them with impunity.
A critical observation has proved that since the KMA came out with the press statement over three weeks ago, not a single soul in Kumasi has been arrested and prosecuted, in spite of the escalating noise at residential and commercial centres on daily basis.
In their letter to warn noise makers issued on February 22, 2010, the KMA stated emphatically that it would start operations soon, but the Assembly did not state how soon it would embark on the operation to address the problems of noise in its catchment area.
This is because more than three weeks after notice was issued, people continue to invade the streets and residential areas, creating all forms of noise to make money at the expense of the health of law-abiding citizens.
Residents are waiting patiently for the KMA to start its “Operation less noise exercise’’ in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs as stated in their press statement to curb the pollution of noise which it has identified as “seriously affecting the heath of residents”.
The hope is that, this time round, the Kumasi Mayor will put action into words by initiating policies and programmes that would halt the pollution of the atmosphere through noise.
This will not only create a serene atmosphere to make residents enjoy life more meaningfully and focus on their core businesses , but would also make the mayor leave a legacy as a politician whose initiatives restored law and order in the Garden City.
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